YC Speech Team Brings Home the Hardware

The York College speech team traveled to Mankato, Minnesota last weekend to participate in the Bethany Lutheran College Vocal Viking speech tournament. This was the second event of the season for the YC team and the first competition that yielded trophies.

Henningson and Shelby Jordan, a sophomore from Centennial, Colo., placed third in the duo interpretation event. Another YC pair placed fourth in the same event: Joe Davis, a junior from Bakersfield, Calif., and Caroline Seilstad, a sophomore from Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Megan Eberle, a senior from Grand Island, Neb., placed eighth in a field of 45 competitors in the impromptu speaking event.

Also competing on the York team was Troy Rowen, a freshman from Strafford, Mo. He competed in the dramatic interpretation and impromptu speaking events, but did not place.

Team coach Shannon M. Leinen, assistant professor of communication and forensics, says that the students were more prepared for this competition than their last and it showed in the team’s performance. “They’ve worked through their ‘first-time nerves’ and are more confident in their pieces,” she says.

The team is in their second year since the program was restarted under Leinen’s direction. Last year was a building year, says Leinen. This year, they are expecting big things from the team, as everyone has a better understanding of the events, the competition, and judges’ expectations. New this year is the addition of assistant coach Brittany Kretz, whose wealth of forensics and theatre experience has added much to the team.

Their next tournament will be at the University of Nebraska Kearney in December. They will host a showcase event called Coffee Shop Talks on November 7 at the Java Café in York from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.